American Arms Fox Model

[Dave Wade]

I bought this "swing out" Fox model recently because I had never seen this action type before. The hand fitting it took to make these is incredible. This gun has a single line patent date. I have found some online with earlier serial numbers with a 2 line patent date. I have found info about the company and this model, but I would like to determine when it was made, if possible. I appreciate any info you can provide.

Dave

[Dave Wade]

A few more to show how the action works

[Dean Romig]

Thank you Dave - I have seen that action once before several years ago… but I don’t remember where.





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[Bill Murphy]

Dave, does the gun fire? I was wondering what is going on in that left firing pin hole.

[Dave Wade]

Originally Posted by Bill Murphy

Dave, does the gun fire? I was wondering what is going on in that left firing pin hole.

It probably does but I don't plan to. I believe it is just a spring issue. It feels quite heavy for a 12 guage.

[ArtS]

Looks like the firing pin return spring is missing or broken. One pin is retracted and one not. The top of the pins are protruding different lengths. Should be a relative easy fix. My have to find a spring that fits or make one.

[Dave Wade]

Originally Posted by Arthur Shaffer

Looks like the firing pin return spring is missing or broken. One pin is retracted and one not. The top of the pins are protruding different lengths. Should be a relative easy fix. My have to find a spring that fits or make one.

I took the firing pins out. They are free-floating and don't use springs.

[ArtS]

Originally Posted by Dave Wade

I took the firing pins out. They are free-floating and don't use springs.

That's interesting. I am asking out of pure interest in old designs. The pictures from the side of the hammers and firing pins show the hammers in a slightly retracted position and one pin in and one out. Are the hammers rebounding or are they resting on a half cock notch. Either way it seems odd that both pins are not fully down with no springs. One maybe more lose than the other. When you had the pins out, did it look like the pin was designed such that a spring would work? It wouldn't be the first old double where someone simply removed and tossed broken springs. I have several old doubles of early 1870s vintage that have half cock notches and no pin springs and the procedure to reload requires a manual half cock before opening to keep from jambing the pins in the primer. Just wondering about the design.

[Dave Wade]

Originally Posted by Arthur Shaffer

That's interesting. I am asking out of pure interest in old designs. The pictures from the side of the hammers and firing pins show the hammers in a slightly retracted position and one pin in and one out. Are the hammers rebounding or are they resting on a half cock notch. Either way it seems odd that both pins are not fully down with no springs. One maybe more lose than the other. When you had the pins out, did it look like the pin was designed such that a spring would work? It wouldn't be the first old double where someone simply removed and tossed broken springs. I have several old doubles of early 1870s vintage that have half cock notches and no pin springs and the procedure to reload requires a manual half cock before opening to keep from jambing the pins in the primer. Just wondering about the design.

The hammers are rebounding. Both pins move freely in and out. They just happen to be in different positions in the photos. Their design does not support using springs,

[Researcher]

I see the price list Dr. Drew posted is dated Feb. 10, 1881, and that rebounding locks had become "standard." The price list in my 1877 catalog has rebounding locks $3 extra on the grades up through 6.

1877 Price List.jpeg

My take is that your gun is a No. 6 with the extras of a pistol grip and rebounding locks.

Here is the page from the catalog that states the guns are chambered for brass or paper cases and mentions the chamber lengths.

1877 page 7.jpg